During the time of the Summer School, lectures for the students are accompanied by a series of engaging seminars for the junior and senior members of the faculty as well as for the fellow colleagues from the Summer School. Every summer, current research is presented and discussed involving Ph.D. students and members of the faculty. The research events are productive meetings, strengthening the scientific network and exchanging new ideas.

Wednesday, 12 July 2023; 12:30 - 13:45, room: S15, Peter Merian-Weg 6
«Do regional scientific breakthroughs translate into lasting innovation advantage?»

Dr. Dragan Filimonovic (Center for International Economics and Business, WWZ, University of Basel) wil present ongoing research undertaken by the CIEB.

Tuesday, 25 July 2023; 16:30 - 17:45, room: S15
"Shareholder Rights and the Bargaining Structure in Control Transactions".

Abstract: We provide a general framework for analyzing shareholder rights in control transactions. Our focus is on the case of dispersed shareholders, and specifically their inability, as a collective, to make counter-offers. When managers have the right to initiate any sale and shareholders have only their statutory rights, namely the right to vote on the transaction and the right to a judicial appraisal, shareholders confront effectively take-it-or-leave-it offers and get no share of deal surplus. While this results in ex-post efficient operation of the market for corporate control, it distorts investment incentives, and we show that shifting deal surplus to target shareholders would be less ex-post efficient but nonetheless increase ex-ante efficiency. We thus analyze how the design of fiduciary duties might strengthen target shareholders' bargaining position. Competition between acquirers, in combination with a norm of non-interference of offers by target managers, increases shareholders' bargaining power but results in socially inefficient transactions. An anti-self-dealing norm can also also deliver greater deal surplus to shareholders but results in managerial entrenchment. Furthermore, given target shareholders' precarious bargaining position, institutional features can have counterintuitive consequences: restricting managers' or controlling shareholders' ability to pursue a transaction without shareholder approval à la MFW ends up hurting shareholders, whereas allowing a plaintiff attorney with misaligned incentives to file suit may help them.

Prof. Bubb teaches the Master course “Corporate Law and Economics”  from 17  to 27 July 23 as part of the Summer School program 2023.

Wednesday, 16 August 2023; 16:15 - 17:45, room: S15
Presentation "The Quiet Revolution in Plastics: Environmental & Health Management Challenges" followed by a discussion

Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled. We hope to host the research talk at a later date.

Host: Prof. Aya Kachi and Prof. Beat Hintermann

Abstract:  Plastics have become essential to global economic well-being and growth.  This talk will consider the chemical diversity of plastics as well as their economic, environmental, and health benefits.  Plastics’ environmental and health challenges will then be posed, along with scientific uncertainties embedded in risk assessments pertaining to food, drinking water, and air pollution.  Regulatory policy comparisons among the plastics, pesticides, and pharmaceutical sectors will be drawn, along with key differences in EU vs US strategies.  To conclude, diverse management options will be suggested, along with their ethical implications.

Prof. Wargo teaches the Master course “The Rise of International Environmental Risks: Corporate and Government Strategies” from 7  to 17 August 23 as part of the Summer School program 2023.